Weekly Q & A Home Gym for Beginners

Weekly Q & A: What do you have in your home gym? What do you recommend for a beginner?

First, I want to congratulate you on taking the first step to working out at home and getting in shape. Working out at home is convenient and affordable. Not only was I self-conscience about my weight but the gym daycare’s policy is not to watch children under one year old. Basically I had no choice but to workout at home and it is still my preferred method.

I already had a few things in my gym before I expanded it to include the other things I mention here. My husband is in amazing shape. He works out regularly and can eat anything he wants without gaining a pound. Oops, a hint of jealousy just slipped out.

Well he started adding to our home gym when I was pregnant with our three year old. He added a few sets of free weights (30 and 35 pounds), kickboxing pads and gloves, and a weight vest. Occasionally we will spare and I will use the weight vest to increase the challenge of my squats and lunges.

I had two sets of free weights already 8 and 12 pounds but I grew out of them quickly. When I was able to add more things to my home gym, I added some 15 and 20 pound free weights. I like these.

I already had a yoga mat, stability ball, and a few random things. I added a resistance band but I didn’t like it because it stretched out too much. I bought this one instead in red and I love it. I added a 15 pound kettlebell that I love but is too light for me now and a 10 pound medicine ball.

Do you need all of this stuff to start working out? Absolutely not!! I would encourage you to start with body weight exercises like squats, lunges, pushups, etc.

However, if you are able to get just one thing, I would recommend some free weights. Lifting weights is important because it causes your body to work (burning calories) in order to repair what you did during your weight lifting sessions. You don’t want to get anything too heavy but you want to get something challenging.

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I would recommend beginners start with 8 to 10 pounds for upper body exercises and for lower body exercises anything 15 pounds and up would be good. Remember you want to challenge your body so do not go too light because you will not get the results you are looking for.

You can add other stuff later if you want. Remember you don’t need anything for HIIT and you can modify other exercises that require other equipment.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to work out at home.

Would you recommend something else for a home gym? What do you absolutely love?